Wow! What a book!!! I loved every moment of reading this bank robbery turned hostage situation. Backman does such a wonderful job writing about humanity. I will read anything he writes!

4.5, rounded up. For some reason, books and movies about bank heists (even non-heist bank heists) really appeal to me, so I was excited to read this one. I love how seamlessly all the stories came together--Backman has always been good at keeping control of his plot, and this book is no exception. His characterization is also great, as usual; while there are a lot of characters to keep track of, I felt they were all unique and fleshed out enough that I didn't feel overwhelmed by that number.

Overall, it's a really fun read--if you've enjoyed his other books, you'll enjoy this one as well.

I’ve loved each of the previous books by Backman that I’ve read, and find his style to be unique, immersive, and emotionally resonant—and “Anxious People” was no exception! The book centers around a bank robbery gone wrong and an apartment open house, but I think it’s best to not know too much about this plot before reading. It is worth mentioning that suicide is a dominant topic in the story, so please be mindful of that.⁣

“Anxious People” was the perfect 2020 read, and felt like the literary equivalent of a warm cup of apple cider. It was full of witty humor, intrigue, love, and heartwarming relationships and character development. I really enjoyed the puzzle-like structure of the book, with the pieces of the story slowly coming together through the chapters. And in classic Backman fashion, there were SO many quotable lines. Mostly, this book encapsulated how hard life can be at times, but has an ultimately hopeful tone, grounded in moments of human kindness and decency. ⁣

4.5/5 stars

Anxious People is another great read by Fredirik Backman. The book is about an unsuccessful bank robbery and the bank robber runs into a real estate open house to escape the police. The eight people at the open house at first seem to have nothing in common but as the story develops they realize they are all human with trials and insecurities in their lives.

I felt this story started out a bit slow but as you get to know the characters and begin to understand the humor in the book, the story blossoms. It is a heartwarming story about human connection. This is a five star book that I enjoyed more than A Man Called Ove., which is much beloved book as well by Mr. Backman.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #AtriaBooks for an advanced readers copy for an honest review. #FredrikBakcman #AniousPeople #NetGalley

The best Backman book to date. The story contains many oddball characters who are not what they first appear to be (as in the case of many of his other books). The way the author slowly reveals the back story of each character and how some are intertwined makes the book very engaging. It is an overall feel good, heartwarming story.

I read a lot of books and most are rated 4 stars with a few 3’s peppered in there. Sometimes I wonder if I’m too harsh, if there should be more 5 star books. Then I read an obvious 5 star book and I am reminded of what makes them so good.

I loved this book from the opening sentence to the closing sentence. It’s the kind of book that as soon as I was finished reading it, I was tempted to just turn back to page one and start again.

The book itself is about a bank robbery that didn’t turn out well and ended up being a hostage situation, when the bank robber ends up in an apartment filled with people at a viewing.

The situation is important only in that it allows us to use it as the background to learn about the people. Because that is really what the book is about - relationships. Not only are there the relationships that the people bring with them, but then there are the relationships that develop during the situation.

Every character is unique and so well thought out. I marvel at the depth that the author brings to each character. He must just sit and observe everything.

I highlighted so many passages, that I eventually had to stop - I could practically highlight the whole book!

Lovely, lovely book - heartwarming, uplifting, sad, happy - every emotion, with just the right amount of humor.

SO CLEVER. I didn't love this book, but I loved this book. Which I realize probably doesn't make sense, unless you've read it, then maybe it does? Backman's writing pulls you straight into the pages and he truly knows how to make characters come to life. At the end of almost every chapter I would think about how clever his writing is and loved the little ways people became connected as the story went on. It wasn't until almost the end that I started to really feel for the characters and connect with them. Backman did a great job getting across how frustrating the police interviews were-- almost too good of a job as I found the characters to be so irritating during the interview portions. Overall, masterful writing as always on an important topic told through wonderful storytelling.

This book had me feeling so many emotions - laughing out loud and heartfelt. It's pure joy and I loved it.

QUICK TAKE: love me some Frederik Backman, and this book is phenomenal. I just find it so impressive how Backman is able to adeptly introduce readers to multiple characters but somehow make them each distinct and different and full-fleshed out within 50 pages. Do I think it's Backman's best? No...I found myself a bit annoyed by the mystery and the timeline jumps for the sake of confusing the reader, but Backman has such a distinct writing style, even with my small issues, I still found myself completely absorbed in this one.

Backman does it again! Backman’s writing style has a unique quality to it that pulls me in every time. Frederick Backman has a way of taking heavy topics and exploring them in a new light with humanity and grace. Trust me when I say that this is the type of story that will speak to everyone who reads it. Anxious People is a story about a failed bank robbery turned into an apartment hostage situation. Although this plot may have you scratching your head and saying “Eh, I don’t think this is my kind of book.”, let me just politely tell you that you are very wrong. Without giving this book away too much, this story is actually about a group of strangers who eventually open their hearts and share their anxieties with one another.

What I am taking away from this novel is the following: Things happen, mistakes are made. Mistakes make us human. Sometimes we are able to alter the path of our mistakes before they become so destructive that there is no turning back. No one is sure what they are doing in life. It is okay to not know what the future holds. You never know what others are going through, so be kind.

Thank you to Fredrik Backman, Atria and Netgalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A small town is rocked by a bank robbery when the robber runs to a nearby apartment viewing and holds the group of people gathered hostage and then disappears in thin air even as the police and media vans surround the apartment. The local police department brings all those who had been in the apartment at the time in for questioning to try and understand how the bank robber escaped.
But as the leading police investigators meet with the former hostages they run into a little problem - the witnesses are no help. Some seem to have a grudge with the police. Some are more concerned with appearances. And some border on being absolute idiots.

Slowly, these people come to realize that their lives have intersected in an unusual way and they begin to open up to one another. And the police leading the investigation, who happen to be father and son, come to realize a few things - not just about the bank robber or the lives of these anxious, ordinary people, but about one another as well.

Like many, I am a Fredrik Backman fan, so I was very eager to read this.

One of the first things that strikes me is that this seems much different from most of the books I've read by Backman before. The humor, almost slapstick at times, with our two policemen like Keystone Cops, is almost over the top. We run in to idiot after idiot in the police interview room, and I must say that there were times I thought Backman went too far. The lunacy had gone a little bit beyond what I was willing to accept as standard behavior.

But Backman is a master storyteller and I should know enough to trust that he's setting us up. There is a purpose for all of this, and he will get to it.

It's ridiculous, and touching, and there are more than a few surprises in store for the reader.

One of the things I find most interesting is that there's almost no central character here. It could be the bank robber, but we don't really know much about this person until much later in the book. It could be the father police officer who does play an important role in the story but it's not really his story being told. Maybe it's the police officer son? Or the real estate agent who led the apartment viewing? Or maybe ... No. It's everybody's story, merged at the intersection of a bank robbery gone wrong.

Let me diverge for just a moment ... for a little over a decade I worked for a Shakespeare Festival and one of the things the directors would talk about was the reason Shakespeare remained so popular was because he wrote so well about what it was to be human. From his histories, to his comedies, to his dark tragedies, Shakespeare relayed what it meant to be human better than anyone else.

I bring this up, because I think Backman is our present-day Shakespeare. He's now shown a variety of styles - humor to tragedy - and I can't think of any living writer who does a better job relaying the complex human experience to readers. Even our hostages - who we think are nothing but a group of idiots - come to show us a tremendous giving spirit, as do our Keystone Cops.

The book is fun, funny, and quite moving. I did think that the process of the interviews with our goofball hostages went on a little too long without much variety and there were moments that I grew bored with the book while reading it. Though upon reflection, I've come to understand it better.

This, like all of Backman's books, is highly recommended.

Looking for a good book? Read Anxious People by Fredrik Backman - you won't be disappointed.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Fredrik Backman, the Swedish author that has gained a devoted following worldwide, again delivers with his newest title, Anxious People. Backman is an astute observer of human nature, delving into motivations and fashioning complex characters that one can't help but find connection.

Take an open house, work in a bank robbery, a therapist's office, and an investigation, and see it all play out. As Backman weaved the various storylines together and revealed relationships and connections, at first I felt it was too tidy, that this would be the title of his that fell flat with me. As the story developed, though, the themes of parenthood, failure, and second chances brought me to tears (and I'm a hardened cynic, rarely becoming emotional enough to cry from a text). 

Backman will sometimes switch to a second person point-of-view for asides. That feature can backfire, which is why it's so infrequently used, but Backman employs it to masterfully create intimacy.  

Backman has captivated readers through stories like A Man Called Ove and Beartown, and Anxious People is no exception. I entered with minimal expectations, fearful he wouldn't be able to again captivate me and deliver yet another masterful story, but I need not have doubted. Backman is a gifted storyteller. I can retreat into his words and trust him to craft a story that will stick with me. Backman sees the heartache and the beauty that exist in tandem, in spite of -- or perhaps because of -- each other. And Backman has found a way to capture the realities around us, the power of finding hope and light in the midst of sadness and darkness.

(I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

I just LOVED this book! I was hooked right from the beginning. Beckman's humor is dry, entertaining, making me laugh out loud. The characters all have their own anxieties, unique, mind baffling but they all make so much sense as the story unfolds. I just loved it. This isn't a story about a man on a bridge but is it? It is a story of a botched bank robbery that turned into a hostage taking? Why did the robbery turn into a hostage taking? because people are idiots that's why.

This isn't a book for everyone. It's for anyone who doesn't mind 10 different characters all going this way and that but crossing the paths of one another along the way. There is so much going on that at first I was wondering what is the author doing?!? where is he going with this story? My mind was trying to follow everything and everyone while trying to piece it all together. I honestly was on the wrong path at one point which I am sure is exactly what the author intended. I love the characters and everyone was so well developed that I felt like I was there in the apartment during this not so common hostage situation. I was sad to have the story end as I felt like I was really getting to know some of the characters especially Zara and wanted to have more time with them.

I give this book a 5 stars! It is in my Top 5 books for 2020! A must read for anyone that wants to laugh out loud. A fun humorous mystery that I could definitely read again and again. I can't wait to read more of Fredrick Backman's novels. This is the first one I have read and now I have a new favourite author!

I don't know if there is any other currently writing author that I love more than Fredrik Backman. Any time I see that he has a new book out, it goes on my auto-buy list. His novels, short stories, and nonfiction writing are consistently what my heart needs and I have yet to be disappointed in anything I've read. Certainly, there are some I think are stronger than others and I think Anxious People falls more in the middle of the pack for me. It seemed like it took much longer for this one to get it's hooks into than some others (Britt-Marie and Us Against You, I'm looking at you). However, once it did I was all in. Anxious People felt disjointed at the start and I was struggling with shifting between characters and events but, at some point the disparate parts started to meld together and by the end of the novel I was invested and saddened the story end. The emotional resonance is there; I don't know if specific characters will stick with me like in Backman's other writings, but the feeling the story left with me is still on my mind, months after reading. Another solid offering from Fredrik Backman.

Love! Love! Love! I will read anything that Fredrick Backman writes, and I was so excited to read this. The story is about a hostage situation, but it is really about so much more! I'm not sure I have underlined more in any book. There were so many sections that just poured out truths about life. The writing was clever and witty and funny, just like Backman always is, but it was so full of joy and truth and love. I would recommend Backman to anyone.

Let me start by saying that I recommend this book. It is a book with heart. Now when you start reading it, it is highly comedic and, frankly, feels very disjointed with the writing style. Midway through the book, all of the threads start weaving together. My problem was that by the end I forgot how some of the threads started because there were so many disparate stories at the beginning. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is described as, “a charming, poignant novel about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.”

I don’t know if I can accurately depict my feelings for this book...

When I started it.. I can’t say I fell in love right away. I am a HUGE Backman fan, but I didn’t quite grasp what he was doing.

But oh, in Backman style, I was a complete blubbering mess by the end. There are so many layers. So many quotes. So many emotional moments that are so intricately written throughout this book.

As always, I recommend. There are too many gems in this for you to miss like this:

“Because the terrible thing about becoming an adult is being forced to realize that absolutely nobody cares about us, we have to deal with everything ourselves now, find out how the whole world works. Work and pay bills, use dental floss and get to meetings on time, stand in line and fill out forms, come to grips with cables and put furniture together, change tires on the car and charge the phone and switch the coffee machine off and not forget to sign the kids up for swimming lessons. We open our eyes in the morning and life is just waiting to tip a fresh avalanche of "Don't Forget!"s and "Remember!"s over us. We don't have time to think or breathe, we just wake up and start digging through the heap, because there will be another one dumped on us tomorrow. We look around occasionally, at our place of work or at parents' meetings or out in the street, and realize with horror that everyone else seems to know exactly what they're doing. We're the only ones who have to pretend. Everyone else can afford stuff and has a handle on other stuff and enough energy to deal with even more stuff. And everyone else's children can swim."

A huge thank you to @atriabooks for my #gifted copy! You are amazing!

Sometimes a book comes along at the perfect moment. For me, that was this book. I loved it from start to finish. The coincidences were well done and interwoven (mentioned so many times how it was a small town). The characters and backstories were so well drawn and well crafted. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this; my heart and soul needed it as of late.

5 stars / This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com 14 November 2020.


One day a man jumps off a bridge setting off a chain of events even he can’t fathom. Many years later a woman tries to rob a bank, failing miserably, but in turn finding a path forward in life. Five people arrive at a viewing of an apartment for sale, each with their own reasons for being there.

Ro and Julia have been looking at a apartment after apartment without one ever meeting Ro’s standards. Estelle is there looking for her daughter. Anna-Lena and Roger have made a hobby of flipping apartments. Zara, well, why is Zara there? She obviously doesn’t fit in.

Two police officers are called to respond to a bank robbery that has somehow turned into a hostage crisis. One is an older veteran, the other a younger, newer, but still quite bright officer. They have different ways of handling things. They argue. But most of all they need to understand what is going on with this bank robber and the hostages.

In other words, it will be quite an extraordinary day for everyone.

I’d always heard that Frederik Backman novels were amazing. I’d never taken the time before now to read one. I was missing out. He is a genius. The linking of each character’s story to another’s was incredible. Almost made me want to get out the whiteboard and map them. Every person had a backstory for why they were together that day, and every person was linked, not even by six degrees of separation. It was a treat to read this novel. It’s possibly one I could find myself reading again and again.

A true departure in form for Backman. I'll admit that it took me a while to get into it (in part because it was so different, also in part because COVID anxiety and work stress make it very difficult for me to focus on anything I read these days), but I read over half of this book in a day says a lot. While it is true that this book is about the many anxieties people face and how it presents itself so differently among us, this was ultimately a book about empathy. We are all too familiar with anxiety - especially in 2020 - but it can also be an incredible unifier in that if you take the time to look outside yourself and consider what others are also up against, you lean on each other. Not my favorite one of his books, but I can absolutely see myself reading this one again when I have a bit more space in my life to breathe and give this the attention it deserves.